Wildlife Tag
OC Field Investigation Activity: Living or Non-living OLD
In this activity, students will learn how to compare the differences between living and non-living things and use these patterns to analyze their observations in the outdoor classroom.
Lesson Plans (PDF) | AL Course of Study Standards (PDF)
Activity Sheet (Word Doc / PDF) Answer Sheet (Word Doc / PDF)
Materials Needed: Copy of What’s Alive? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, ~25 Copies of the "Living or Nonliving?" Field Investigation Activity Sheets, 25 Clipboards, & 25 Pencils (optional: hand trowels for digging & magnifying glasses)
STEP 1: Engage through Discussion
The background information, chart, song and example questions below can be used to help introduce the topic, engage the students, and build a foundation to discuss the topic:
Background Info for Teachers (Click Here) | Background Info for Students (Word Doc | PDF)
"Living & Nonliving Characteristics" Charts: (Word Doc | PDF)
STEP 2: Explore with Literature
This book can be used to further explore the topic with your students:
STEP 3: Explain using Technology
This video can be used to further explain the topic to your students:
STEP 4: Investigate through Journaling
The Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Sheet(s) allow students to apply what they have learned as they investigate and record their real-world observations in their field journals. Before you go outside, don't forget to review the activity instructions and your Outdoor Classroom Rules with your students:
STEP 5: Review with an Assessment
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on the activity sheets. You can also use one or both of the following activities to review and assess your students’ level of understanding:
(1) Living & Nonliving Scavenger Hunt (Word Doc | PDF)
(2) Living or Nonliving Quiz (Word Doc | PDF)
Example living things that might be found in your outdoor classroom include plants such as grass, flowers, bushes and trees; or animals such as bugs/insects, worms, birds, etc. Non-living things may include benches, rocks, lumber, bricks, water, buckets, dead sticks, etc. .
Lesson Plans (PDF) | AL Course of Study Standards (PDF)
Activity Sheet (Word Doc / PDF) Answer Sheet (Word Doc / PDF)
Materials Needed: Copy of What’s Alive? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, ~25 Copies of the "Living or Nonliving?" Field Investigation Activity Sheets, 25 Clipboards, & 25 Pencils (optional: hand trowels for digging & magnifying glasses)
STEP 1: Engage through Discussion
The background information, chart, song and example questions below can be used to help introduce the topic, engage the students, and build a foundation to discuss the topic:
Background Info for Teachers (Click Here) | Background Info for Students (Word Doc | PDF)
"Living & Nonliving Characteristics" Charts: (Word Doc | PDF)
- "It is Living" Song: (Word Doc | PDF)
- Example Questions & Answers (Word Doc | PDF | Interactive PPT) - If you use the PowerPoint (PPT), be sure to click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to display questions and answers separately.
STEP 2: Explore with Literature
This book can be used to further explore the topic with your students:
- What’s Alive? (Let's Read & Find Out Science Series Level 1) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld ISBN: 978-0064451321
STEP 3: Explain using Technology
This video can be used to further explain the topic to your students:
STEP 4: Investigate through Journaling
The Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Sheet(s) allow students to apply what they have learned as they investigate and record their real-world observations in their field journals. Before you go outside, don't forget to review the activity instructions and your Outdoor Classroom Rules with your students:
- Activity Instructions for the Living or Nonliving Activity Page(s) - (Word Doc | PDF) Students will go to the outdoor classroom to look for one example of a living thing and one example of a nonliving thing. Then, they should record their observations on their field investigation pages including the identification of each thing, its color and its size.
- Activity Answer Sheet for Teachers: (Word Doc | PDF)
- Outdoor Classroom Activity Tip - If possible, let the children dig in the soil for animals such as worms, and give them magnifying glasses to use.
- Example Outdoor Classroom Rules - The outdoor classroom is not a playground, so do not run and do not climb on anything. Remember that the outdoor classroom provides habitat (a home) for local wildlife, and you should not damage the local wildlife habitat. Therefore, do not pick up wildlife, plants, flowers or rocks. Also, do not feed wildlife.
STEP 5: Review with an Assessment
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on the activity sheets. You can also use one or both of the following activities to review and assess your students’ level of understanding:
(1) Living & Nonliving Scavenger Hunt (Word Doc | PDF)
(2) Living or Nonliving Quiz (Word Doc | PDF)
Example living things that might be found in your outdoor classroom include plants such as grass, flowers, bushes and trees; or animals such as bugs/insects, worms, birds, etc. Non-living things may include benches, rocks, lumber, bricks, water, buckets, dead sticks, etc. .